Gareth Edwards: Lions snub could end Gatland-Edwards partnership

Gareth Edwards has voiced his concerns that Lions boss Warren Gatland’s shock decision to leave his loyal lieutenant Shaun Edwards at home could spark the permanent break-up of their hugely successful coaching partnership.

Gareth Edwards has voiced his concerns that Lions boss Warren Gatland’s shock decision to leave his loyal lieutenant Shaun Edwards at home could spark the permanent break-up of their hugely successful coaching partnership.

Edwards had been expected to get the nod having been a part of the 2009 Lions set-up in South Africa and an almost permanent henchman of Gatland’s for the past decade.

But he will instead head to Japan as an understudy to Robin McBryde on what will be a low-key Wales tour at the end of this season.

Edwards has largely kept his counsel since his shock omission, though it is common knowledge that he was bitterly disappointed.

Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Roger Lewis has dismissed fears of a rift, saying that Edwards plans to follow the Lions as a fan once his duties in Japan are finished.

But Edwards’ disappointment is something that his namesake, Lions legend Gareth, reckons could have longer-term consequences for Wales.

“I don’t know whether or not Warren had discussed his decision with Shaun and explained the reasons why he was not going with the Lions,” said the man who did so much to engineer Lions series victories in New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa in 1974.

“It’s a hard one for Shaun – there’s no doubt about that and he might think it’s time for a change.

“If the relationship is torn or ended it might be better if they parted company. That’s something only Shaun and Warren know.”

Gatland and Edwards enjoyed a successful spell in charge at Wasps, winning the Heineken Cup and have also presided over two Welsh Grand Slams.

The longevity of their professional relationship has led to them being seen very much as a pair.

In fact, Edwards compared them to one of football’s most famous coaching double acts.

“They’ve been like Clough and Taylor, very strong and united,” he added.

“I was surprised that Shaun isn’t going with the Lions. You have to ask why. It looks like a slap in the face. Maybe, it’s one of those occasions where it’s not straightforward.

“There might be mitigating circumstances but when you have been part of the Lions before, as Shaun has been, you’re going to feel relatively disappointed.

“Going to Australia would have appealed to Shaun, as a former rugby league guy. It’s where he would have been of world standing.”

While surprised at Edwards’ omission, Gareth was adamant that those Gatland has chosen have all the tools to deliver success,

“Farrell has got good credentials. Warren has got to believe he has got the combination of coaches he wants for coaching the Lions,” he went on.

“Farrell and Graham Rowntree, the other English coach appointed by Warren, will know what makes the English players tick.

“The Lions are four teams coming together as one and the more information you have the better you are going to be.”

Gatland is taking Rob Howley, who will be Wales caretaker coach during the Six Nations, to Australia as Lions backs boss.

That decision has met with a lukewarm response among pundits, with some arguing that Leinster boss Joe Schmidt would have been a more progressive option.

Schmidt recently indicated he would have loved the opportunity, but it never went his way.

And Gareth maintains it might have been better for Howley, whose only win in six attempts as Wales head man was against scratch team Barbarians last June, to have gone to Japan to tackle what will inevitably be an easier assignment.

“It would have helped Rob with his confidence because it has been shattered by the autumn,” he said.

Wales crossed the whitewash just three times in the autumn series, as they were whitewashed by Argentina, Samoa, World Cup holders New Zealand and Australia.

The results have led to a reassessment of where Wales are at as a force in the world game and their demise has led to them slipping to ninth in the IRB world rankings.

Player-wise too, there are some individuals who have fallen back in the Lions pecking order because of the November displays and have it all to prove in the forthcoming Six Nations.

Captain Sam Warburton is one player who is striving to recapture the form he displayed in leading Wales to the World Cup semi-final and the 2012 Grand Slam.

And while there are those who believe he is fading as a major contender for the Lions captaincy, Gareth doesn’t buy that argument.

“If Sam can get back to the form he showed at the World Cup and during the Grand Slam, he might carry the day. He has got something about him,” he stressed.

“There’s no doubt Sam at his best would be a fine leader – but it’s been a tough autumn for Wales, who I thought looked somewhat jaded. We also mustn’t discount the claims of Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell, Jamie Heaslip and Chris Robshaw. Much depends on the Six Nations and we know Warren Gatland picks on form – not on reputation.”

Gareth Edwards was speaking on behalf of HSBC. As proud principal partner of the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia next year, HSBC is offering all customers an exclusive 30% discount on the official replica Lions jersey at https://store.lionsrugby.com/discount